The Indian Air Force (IAF) reported that an An-32 transport aircraft met with an accident in the Jorhat region of Assam state during a routine training flight on the morning of 13/6. An investigation board has been formed to determine the cause of the incident.
Video footage broadcast by NDTV showed the An-32 landing normally before it sharply veered off the runway. The aircraft continued across the grass until its nose dipped into lower ground, bringing it to a halt. The impact likely damaged the fuel lines, causing a significant amount of fuel to spill and ignite.
An An-32 transport aircraft skids off the runway in Assam during the 13/6 incident. Video: X/Osint613
Firefighters were deployed immediately to tackle the blaze, but the fire severely damaged the airframe, causing the aircraft's tail section to collapse within minutes.
The IAF confirmed that all five individuals on board the aircraft died. The victims were Major Prashant Singh, Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Corporal Khemaram Kumawat, and Corporal Danish Alam. Authorities repatriated the servicemen's bodies by military aircraft for funerals with full military honors.
The An-32 is a twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft. The Soviet Union's Antonov Design Bureau developed it in the 1970s, with its first test flight in 1976. Production ran from 1982 to 2012, manufacturing a total of 373 aircraft.
Antonov built the An-32 series upon the An-26 transport aircraft platform, focusing on improved resistance to harsh weather and operating conditions. A notable feature of the An-32 is its engines, positioned about 1,5 meters above the main wing surface, to prevent damage from debris and stones during takeoff and landing on unprepared runways.
The An-32 boasts superior technical characteristics for operations in hot climates and at high altitudes, capable of handling temperatures up to 55 degrees C and altitudes of 4.500 m. It can serve as a military transport aircraft or a short-to-medium-range passenger plane, meeting diverse client needs.
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An An-32 transport aircraft broken in two after the 13/6 accident. Photo: PTI |
An An-32 transport aircraft broken in two after the 13/6 accident. Photo: PTI
The Indian Air Force procured a total of 125 An-32 aircraft, with more than 100 remaining operational. It is India's primary tactical transport aircraft, regularly transporting troops and supplies to units stationed in challenging terrains, including the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir, a region known as the "world's highest battlefield".
At least 18 serious accidents involving the An-32 fleet within the Indian Air Force have resulted in numerous fatalities. The most recent incident occurred in 2019, when an aircraft crashed near Jorhat, killing 13 people.
By Thanh Danh (According to Al Jazeera, DT Next, NDTV)
